Reasons to Opt for Propane for Your Caravan Gas Powered Appliances

by Grace Evans January 23, 2017

So you’ve finally decided to buy a nice, spacious caravan and treat yourself and your loved ones to a relaxing weekend camping getaway near your town. However, the thought of staying in the great outdoors for a couple of days without eating healthy and tasty home-cooked meals scares you a bit (all right, a lot), which is why you’re considering the possibility of purchasing several caravan kitchen appliances that will help you prepare and enjoy heavenly delicious food during your stay in the woods.

In case you didn’t know, most caravan gas powered appliances (including kitchen ones, such as gas camping stoves) are made to run on either propane or butane. These are both types of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), but they are very different. Propane is a by-product created during the processing of natural gas and the refining of petroleum, whereas butane is a flammable hydrocarbon gas that is a constituent of petroleum.

When it comes to the operation of a caravan gas cooker or stove, many people aren’t quite sure which gas to use – propane or butane. Although both of these gases have advantages and disadvantages, a large number of experienced campers say that propane is the better option. Read on to find out why.

First of all, propane has a higher calorific value than butane. This means that propane burns hotter which explains why pots boil faster when propane gas is used. Furthermore, propane is cheaper and lighter than butane. This, of course, is a very positive characteristic because it means that if you opt for propane gas you will be able to save money, pack more gas, and avoid hurting yourself as much while lifting the propane cylinder.

Another great reason to choose propane gas for your caravan gas cooker is the fact that it can supply a larger number of appliances at the same time thanks to its greater off-take rate. Moreover, propane gas can be used all year round, whereas liquid butane can operate solely in spring and summer because in very cold conditions it doesn’t turn to gas. This makes propane ideal for exterior storage and use. However, before you buy a propane cylinder for your camping trip, be sure your caravan appliances are designed to run on this gas.

Let me end this article by informing or reminding you that you’ll need a proper pressure-reducing regulator for the gas you’ll be using in your caravan.